Professional Vacate Cleaning vs General House Cleaning: Key Differences

You can’t do basic house cleaning to pass your rental inspection at the end of your tenancy. This can lead to bond deductions, penalties and even disputes. Most tenants often struggle to differentiate between general house cleaning and professional vacate cleaning when hiring experts. It may be tempting to lock in an affordable cleaning package, but you should always choose the right service to make the most of your hard earned money.

According to the Residential Tenancy Laws in Perth, renters are responsible for handing over the property in the same condition as they moved in. It may not require top notch cleaning but adhering to landlord’s cleanliness standards is crucial to passing the rental inspection. That’s where a professional vacate cleaning Perth comes in. It is completely different from general dusting, vacuuming and mopping chores.

It is more detailed and requires expertise to impress the fussy landlord. Fret not! Here is a comprehensive guide to help understand the key differences between professional vacate cleaning vs general house cleaning. Remember that both need a different approach for spotless results. Moreover, this will help you make an informed decision while protecting your rental bond at the end of your lease.

Let’s Get Started!

1. Understanding the Definition: General House Vs Professional Vacate Cleaning

General House Cleaning: It is also known as regular cleaning to dislodge visible dirt, dust and pollens. It involves basic housekeeping chores that you do on a regular/daily basis to keep common areas clean and organised. It doesn’t require intensive cleaning or scrubbing of stubborn stains or the buildup of grease and grime. Instead, it is done to maintain a basic level of cleanliness in your home.

Professional Vacate Cleaning: It is also known as end of lease cleaning or bond cleaning. It is a time of cleaning, which is performed when tenants are moving out of their rented home or apartment. It involves detailed cleaning of the entire property from top to bottom, nooks and crannies, and hard to reach areas, with the sole aim to return the property in a ‘reasonably clean’ state to pass the rental inspection.

2. What’s the Purpose: Basic House Cleaning Vs Vacate Cleaning

While general house cleaning is carried out with the objective only to maintain the hygiene, and comfort of the home, vacate cleaning is performed to help tenants secure their hard earned bond money (which is equivalent to four weeks’ rent).

Routine session targets surface level cleaning, such as desks, tables, chairs, floors, etc. You can do it daily or weekly to clear the mess and keep allergens at bay. However, professional vacate cleaners in Perth offer a bond back guarantee with terms and conditions and also offer re clean service at a free of cost to clean missed spots for the sole aim to secure your rental bond.

3. Cleaning Inclusions: Key Difference between Scope of Work

General House Cleaning: It covers routine tasks, such as dusting hard surfaces like shelves, walls, and floors, vacuuming carpets, sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning kitchen countertops, decluttering rooms, disinfecting bathrooms, wiping water from the floors, taking out the trash, etc. You don’t need to go deeper, like grout lines, inside kitchen appliances, to banish grime and gunk.

Professional Vacate Cleaning: Experts follow a pre approved cleaning checklist, covering all rooms, important spots, nooks and crannies, exterior areas, etc to banish grime, gunk and grease. From air vents and ceiling fans to window sills and blinds, door tracks and kitchen appliances (an oven, range hood, microwave, refrigerator, and dishwasher) to bathroom fixtures and floors of all rooms, every inch of the premises is cleaned to pass the final rental inspection. Professionals go the extra mile to clean patio areas and garage walls with precision.

4. Time and Energy: General House Cleaning vs. Deep Vacate Cleaning

Since general house cleaning targets visible dust and debris, it can take 1 hour to 2 hours for smaller homes and 5 hours for larger ones, depending on the size and condition of the home. The tasks involve basic dusting, wiping, and vacuuming, which can be performed daily, weekly or fortnightly to keep dust bunnies and allergens at bay, promoting a healthy indoor space.

On the other hand, the duration of end of lease cleaning can go up to 4 hours to 8 or even 10 hours, depending the factors like the property’s size, level of dirtiness and additional services required. Sometimes, it takes a full day to remove hidden dust, dirt, debris and grime. That’s one of the key reasons why tenants prefer hiring expert vacate cleaning Perth, especially those who are in a serious time crunch due to moving related responsibilities.

5. Necessary Products and Tools used in House vs End of Lease Cleaning

General House Cleaning: You don’t need any fancy cleaning supplies to tackle dirt and grime. You can maintain a tidy and hygienic indoor environment using basic supplies, such as warm water, vinegar, baking soda, dusters, sponges, vacuum cleaners, a broom and mop. It is good to use environmentally friendly cleaning products to keep your home healthy.

Professional Vacate Cleaning: To access nooks and crannies, you may need more than basic cleaning supplies. This includes a telescopic duster to reach ceilings and light fixtures, a crevice brush to clean grout lines and door tracks, a steam cleaner and a vacuum cleaner, scrubbers, etc. When it comes to cleaning products, you need oven and microwave degreasers, stain removers, disinfectants, a magic eraser, deodoriser, etc, to achieve spotless results.

6. Know the Difference Between Cleaning Standards

While general house cleaning is based on homeowner’s specific preferences, a detailed vacate cleaning must meet property manager or landlord’s cleanliness standards, which is often mentioned in the rental laws and cleaning causes in the lease agreement. To secure your bond money, you are required to return the property in the same condition as it was at the start of the lease, beyond fair wear and tear. So, it is always good to check the Property Condition Report and follow a pre approved cleaning checklist to secure bond money.

7. Vacate Cleaning is Expensive than General House Cleaning

A professional vacate cleaning Perth is much more detailed, precise and often requires expertise. Therefore, it is more expensive compared to other types of services. Make sure you do proper research, know your specific requirements, and understand hidden fees, inclusions and exclusions when hiring cleaning experts at the end of your tenancy. It is always good to hire a company that follows a transparent pricing policy.

Infographic: How general house cleaning is different from professional vacate cleaning

Wrapping Up

There is no rocket science behind the difference between general house cleaning and professional vacate cleaning. While general cleaning is performed on a regular basis to maintain a healthy and livable environment, vacate cleaning is more detailed and performed at the end of a tenancy. It is a one time cleaning service that can help tenants secure their bond money with ease.